Current collecting device



June 21, 193 w. SCHAAKE 2,121,612

CURRENT COLLEQ'I ING DEVI CE Filed 001;. 25, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 29 /fl'am ch0a/V3 WITNESSES: I

CURRENT COLLECTING DEVICE Filed Oct. 23, 1935 2 Sheets-Shec 2 Patented June 21, 1938 2,1Zi,tl2 PATENT oFFic CURRENT COLLECTING DEVICE William Schaake, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to I Westinghouse Electric .2; Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa, a corporation of Pennsylvania Application October 23, 1935, Serial No. 46,276

1'? Claims.

My invention relates, generally, to current 001- lecting equipment'and it has particular relation to pole heads for collecting current from trolley wires.

The object of my invention, generally stated, is to provide a trolley pole head which shall be simple and efiicient in operation and which may be readily and economically manufactured and installed.

An important object of my invention is to provide a universal mounting for a slider shoe on a pole head carried at the end of a trolley pole by an electric vehicle.

Another object of my invention is to provide for permitting the movement of a slider shoe in a plurality of planes relative to a pole head.

A further object of my invention is to provide for the rotation of a current collecting device about ahorizontal axis relative to a stem which itself is rotatable in a pole head about a vertical axis.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a separable wear plate between a current collecting device and its support in. a pole head.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a. pole head with a stem rotatable about a vertical axis and terminating in an arcuate surface, a current collecting device interfitting with the stem, and a separable arcuate bearing plate or wear plate interposed between the stem and the current collecting device.

Other objects of my invention will in part be obvious and in part appear hereinafter.

My invention accordingly is disclosed in the embodiment hereof shown in the accompanying drawings and comprises the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth and thescope of the application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

For a. more complete understanding of the nature and scope of my invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a view, in side elevation, illustrating a concrete embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a View, in end elevation, of the pole head shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line III--'III of Fig. 2 and showing in detail the construction of the slider shoe and swivel mounting.

Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken along the line IV-IV of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a view in side elevation of the bearing plate which is interposed between the slider shoe and the bearing stem, and

Fig. 6 is a view in side elevation of the bearing stem which is rotatably mounted in the pole head.

Referring now particularly to Figs. land 2 of the drawings, the reference character It] designates, generally, a pole head which is provided with a clamp l E for securing the device at the outer end of a trolley pole i2 adapted to be carried by an electric vehicle (not shown). The pole head it is further provided with a bearing structure E3 on which is mounted a swivel l4 that is adapted to rotate in a pluralityof planes. In order to collect current, a slider shoe I5 is mounted on the swivel it and it is arranged to engage a trolley wire it as illustrated.

The details of construction of the pole head are more clearly illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings. As there illustrated, the bearing structure i3 is provided with a vertical opening Ell in which a bearing bushing 25 is positioned from the upper side. Mounted for rotation in the bearing bushing 25 is a bearing stem 22 which is shown in detail in Fig. 6 of the drawings. The bearing stem '22 is provided with a cylindrical bearing surface 23 which is arranged to be positioned inside of. the bearing bushing 2i, as illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings. At the upper end of this surface, a flange 2 is provided to limit the downward movement of the bearing stem 22. The lower end 25 of the bearing stem 22 is threaded and a castellated nut 26 is positioned thereon to secure the bearing stem 23 in position. A cotter pin 21 is provided to prevent the nut 26 from turning when it has been placed in the desired location. Interposed between the lower surface of the bearing structure l3 and the top of the nut 26 is a flat washer 28 and a spring lock washer 29. By means of the spring lock washer 29, the bearing stem 22 is resiliently held against longitudinal movement relative to the bearing bushing 2! under ordinary conditions.

The upper end of the bearing stem 22 terminates in a bearing segment 30, the upper and lower surfaces of which form arcuate bearing surfaces. The entire top surface of the bearing segment 38 is machined to a finished surface for a purpose which will be set forth hereinafter. In addition, the under surface of the bearing segment 30 is machined along the edges thereof to provide a machined fit with inwardly projecting bearing portions 3! and 32, Fig. 4, of the swivel it. In order to secure the slider shoe l5 to the swivel I i, a single bolt 33 is provided which extends transversely therethrough as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

In order to permit the swivel i l and the slider shoe l 5 carried thereby to rotate relatively to the bearing stem 22 about a horizontal axis which is at right angles to the axis of rotation of the bearing stem 22, an arcuate bearing or wear plate 34 is provided. This plate is shown in detail in Fig. of the drawings and its relative location in the pole head is shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings. The under surface of the arcuate bearing plate 34 is finished to the same radius of curvature as the upper surface of the bearing segment 30. The ends of the bearing plate 34 are arranged to support suitable downwardly extending bosses 35 and 36 of the slider shoe l5. In order to insure that the proper alignment will be maintained between the slider shoe i5 and the wear plate 34, a pin 31 is provided in a suitable opening 38 in the Wear plate 3 2. As shown, the pin 31 is provided at its upper end with a transverse opening 39 through which the bolt 33 is passed, thereby securing the pin 3! in proper alignment with the slider shoe l5.

In assembling the pole head the bearing bushing 2| is first positioned in the bearing structure I3 and then the swivel i4 is placed thereon. The bearing stem 22 is then passed downwardly through the swivel l4 and through the bearing bushing 2! and the washers 2B and 29, the nut 26 and the cotter pin 2'! are placed in their appropriate positions. The arcuate bearing plate 34 is then positioned on top of the bearing segment 30 with the pin 3? in place and the slider shoe I5 is positioned on top of it with the bosses 35 and 36 in engagement with the ends of the bearing plate 34. The single bolt 33 is then positioned in suitable transverse openings in the swivel M, the pin 31 and the slider shoe l5, as illustrated.

In the foregoing construction, it will be observed that a minimum number of parts is employed and that by removing the bolt 33, the slider shoe 15 may be readily removed from the swivel l4 and replaced. By removing the nut 26 from the threaded portion 25 of the bearing stem 22, it is possible to entirely disassemble the movable parts of the pole head. It will also be observed that in this construction a minimum amount of machining is required, since there are few finished surfaces.

Since certain changes may be made in the foregoing construction and different embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matters shown in the accompanying drawings or set forth in the foregoing description shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim as my invention:

l. A device for collecting current from a trolley wire comprising, in combination, a pole head disposed to be carried by a trolley pole, support means rotatably mounted on said pole head, a swivel disposed in rotatable relation about said support means to oscillate in a plurality of planes relative to said pole head, and current collecting means detaohably secured in fixed relation to said swivel for engaging the trolley wire.

2. A device for collecting current from a trolley wire comprising, in combination, a pole head disposed to be carried by a trolley pole, support means rotatably mounted on said pole head, a swivel interfitting in rotatable relation about said support means and disposed to oscillate in a plurality of planes relative to said pole head, current collecting means carried by said swivel for engaging said trolley wire, and means for removably securing said swivel and said current collecting means in'fixed relation.

3. A current collector for an electric vehicle comprising, in combination, a pole head disposed to be carried by a trolley pole, and a unitary assembly carried by the pole head comprising, a support member rotatably mounted on said pole head, a current collecting device disposed to rotate with and oscillate at right angles to said support member, a separate wear plate interposed between the current collecting device and the support member, and a single retaining means adapted to retain said assembly in operating relation.

4. A current collector for an electric vehicle comprising, in combination, a pole head disposed to be carried by a trolley pole, a support member rotatably mounted on said pole head, a swivel disposed to rotate with and oscillate at right angles to said support member, a current collecting device secured in fixed relation to said swivel for engaging a trolley wire, a separate arcuate wear plate interposed between the current collecting device and the support member, and means to secure the support member, swivel, wear plate, and current collecting device in operative relation.

5. A current collector for an electric vehicle comprising, in combination, a pole head disposed to be carried by a trolley pole, a support member rotatably mounted on said pole head, a swivel interfitting with and disposed to rotate with and oscillate at right angles to said support member, a current collecting device carried by said swivel for engaging a trolley wire, and a single retaining means for securing said swivel and said current collecting device in fixed relation with each other and in movable relation with the support member.

6. A device for collecting current from a trolley wire comprising, in combination, a pole head disposed to be carried by a trolley pole, support means rotatably mounted on said pole head, current collecting means rotatably interconnected with said support means and disposed to oscillate in a plurality of planes relative to said pole head for engaging the trolley wire, independent bearing means interposed between said support and current collecting means, and common retaining means including a transverse bolt member adapted to secure the support means, bearing means, and current collecting means in operating relation.

7. A current collector for an electric vehicle comprising, in combination, a pole head disposed to be carried by a trolley pole, support means rotatably mounted on said pole head, a swivel disposed about said support means to oscillate in a plurality of planes relative to said pole head, current collecting means removably secured in fixed relation to said swivel and disposed to engage a trolley wire, and independent bearing means interposed between said current collecting means and said support means.

8. A current collector for an electric vehicle comprising, in combination, a pole head disposed to be carried by a trolley pole,support means rotatably mounted on said pole head, a swivel rotatably interfitting with said support means and disposed to oscillate in a plurality of planes relative to said pole head, current collecting means carried by said swivel and disposed to engage a trolley wire, independent bearing means interposed between said current collecting means and said support means, and retaining means for securing said swivel, said independent bearing means, and said current collecting device in fixed relation.

9. A current collector for an electric vehicle comprising, in combination, a pole head disposed to be carried by a trolley pole, and the unitary assembly of a support member rotatably mounted on said pole head, a swivel disposed to rotate with and oscillate at right angles to said support member, a current collecting device secured in fixed relation to the swivel, a separate arcuate Wear plate interposed between said support member and said current collecting device to provide a bearing surface therebetween, and means to secure the support member, swivel, wear plate and current collecting device in operating relation.

10. A current collector for an electric vehicle comprising, in combination, a pole head disposed to be carried by a trolley pole, a support member rotatably mounted on said pole head, a swivel disposed to rotate with and oscillate at right angles to said support member, a current collecting device secured in fixed relation with said swivel for engaging a trolley wire, a separate wear plate interposed between said support member and said current collecting device, and means including a transverse through bolt member adapted to secure the support member, swivel and current collecting device in association.

11. A current collector for an electric vehicle comprising, in combination, a pole head disposed to be carried by a trolley pole, a support member rotatably mounted on said pole head, a swivel member interfitting with and disposed to rotate with and oscillate at right angles to the support member, a current collector device adapted to be secured to the swivel, transverse bolt means for securing the current collector and the swivel in fixed relation, and a wear plate interposed between the support member and current collector for facilitating relative movement therebetween.

12. A device for collecting current from a trolley wire comprising, in combination, a pole head disposed to be carried by a trolley pole, a hearing stem mounted on said pole head for rotation about a vertical axis, the upper end of said bearing stem terminating in an arcuate bearing sur face, a current collecting device for engaging the trolley wire, said current collecting device being adapted for relative movement at right angles to said bearing stem simultaneously with rotation therewith, a separate wear plate interposed between the arcuate bearing surface of the bearing stem and the current collecting device, and means including a single through bolt member disposed to secure the current collecting device, Wear plate and bearing stem in unitary relation.

13. A device for collecting current from a trolley wire comprising, in combination, a pole head disposed to be carried by a trolley pole, a bearing stem mounted on said pole head for rotation about a vertical axis, the upper end of said bearing stem terminating in an arcuate bearing member, a swivel interfitting with said bearing stem and disposed to rotate therewith, said swivel being provided with an arcuate bearing surface for engaging said arcuate bearing member to permit said swivel to also oscillate at right angles relative to said bearing stem, a slider shoe for engaging the trolley wire, an arcuate wear member positioned within said swivel, between the arcuate bearing member and the slider shoe, and means including a single transverse bolt member adapted to secure a unitary assembly of the bearing stem, swivel, wear member, and slider shoe.

14. A device for collecting current from a trolley wire comprising, in combination, a pole head disposed to be carried by a trolley pole, a bearing stem mounted on said pole head for rotation about a vertical axis, the upper end of said bearing stem terminating in an arcuate bearing member, a swivel interfitting with said bearing stem and disposed to rotate therewith, saidswivel being provided with an arcuate bearing surface for engaging said arcuate bearing member to permit said swivel to also oscillate at right angles relative to said bearing stem, a slider shoe detachably secured in fixed relation to said swivel for engaging the trolley wire, and a bolt extending transversely through said swivel and said slider shoe for securing them together in movable relation with said bearing stem.

15. A device for collecting current from a trolley wire comprising, in combination, a pole head disposed to be carried by a trolley pole, a bearing stem mounted on said pole head for rotation about a vertical axis, the upper end of said bearing stem terminating in an arcuate bearing surface, a current collecting device for engaging the trolley wire and disposed to rotate with said stem, a separate arcuate bearing plate interposed between said bearing stem and said current collecting device and engaging said arcuate bearing surface, and means including a single through bolt member disposed to secure the current collecting device, bearing plate and bearing stem in a unitary assembly, thereby permitting said current collecting device to oscillate relative to said stem about an axis at right angles to the plane containing said vertical axis.

16. A device for collecting current from a trolley wire comprising, in combination, a pole head disposed to be carried by a trolley pole, and a unitary assembly carried by the pole head comprising, a bearing stem mounted on said pole head for rotation about a vertical axis, the upper end of said bearing stem terminating in an arcuate bearing member, a swivel interfitting with said bearing member and disposed to rotate therewith, a slider shoe secured in fixed relation to said swivel for engaging said trolley wire, a separate arcuate bearing plate interposed between said bearing member and said slider shoe and engaging said arcuate bearing member, thereby permitting said swivel, arcuate bearing plate and said slider shoe to oscillate relative to said stem about an axis at right angles to the plane containing said vertical axis.

17. A device for collecting current from a trolley wire comprising, in combination, a pole head disposed to be carried by a trolley pole, a bearing stem mounted on said pole head for rotation about a vertical axis, the upper end of said bearing stem terminating in an arcuate bearing surface, a swivel interfitting with said bearing stem and disposed to rotate therewith, a slider shoe detachably secured in fixed relation to said swivel for engaging the trolley wire, a bolt extending transversely through said swivel and said slider shoe for securing them together, and a separate arcuate bearing plate interposed between said bearing stem and said slider shoe, being positioned by said transverse bolt, and engaging said arcuate bearing surface, thereby permitting said swivel, arcuate bearing plate and said slider shoe to oscillate relative to said stem about an axis at right angles to the plane containing said vertical axis.

SCI-IAAKE, 

